Comparisons: As vs Like

A NUMBER OF VS A NUMBER OF

SANAM PRONOUNS

Both are prepositions: they need to be followed by nouns. AS: can be a conjunction used in a clause ( a structure that has a working verb) LIKE: cannot be a conjunction for a clause WRONG: Like her brother did, Eve aced the GMAT. RIGHT: As her brother did, EVE aced the GMAT.

A number of: PLURAL The number of: SINGULAR

Some Any None All Most/More The verb these pronouns refer to is either singular or plural; depends on if the subject is singular or plural/

PARALLELISM: SUBJECTS PRONOUNS AND CLAUSES

THE 5 DEADLY PRONOUNS

ACTIVE VOICE VS PASSIVE VOICE

A pronoun in subject position in one clause may be presumed to refer refer to the subject of another clause. Eg. SUPERNOVAS destroy their environments in explosions but, by synthesizing heavy chemicals, THEY provide the universe with carbon-like elements.

SINGULAR: It, Its PLURAL: They, Them, Their Watch out for common errors with these five!

Active voice is usually preferred over Passive voice. ACTIVE: Jack performed this music PASSIVE: This music is performed by Jack.

SIMPLE TENSES

CONTINUOUS TENSES

PERFECT TENSES

PAST: Jack played X PRESENT: Jack plays X FUTURE: Jack will play X

PAST: Jack was playing X PRESENT: Jack is playing X FUTURE: Jack will be playing X

PAST: Jack had played X PRESENT: Jack has played X FUTURE: Jack will have played X The verb needs to be of the verb+ed form.

RELATIVE PRONOUNS

PARALLEL MARKERS EVERY

Which, That, Who, Whose, Whom, Where

AND: X and Y BOTH/AND: Both X and Y 1. People can only be referred to by OR: X or Y who, whom, whose but NOT EITHER/OR: Either X or Y that. NOT/BUT: Not X but Y 2. Whose can modify objects as NOT ONLY/BUT: Not only X but Y well. RATHER THAN: X rather than Y 3. Where can only modify a place.

Sentences that start with every are singular: Every dog has its day.

BOSSY WORDS

USE OF AND

COUNTABLE VS UNCOUNTABLE QUANTITIES

Bossy words require this structure: Bossy word + THAT + subject + command subjunctive.

Usually and combines two nouns to make them plural. Eg. Jack and Jason are going to be at the concert.

Countable Modifiers: Many hats, Few hats, Number of hats, Numerous Hats Uncountable Modifiers: Much love Little love Less love Least love Amount of love

Eg. John ordered that the band play Led Zeppelin. Eg. Jack as well as Jason is going to be at the concert. COMMAND SUBJUNCTIVE: Verb in its infinitive without the to PLAY, RUN, SEEK, HIDE ETC

PRONOUN REPEATS VS PRONOUN PROXIMITY

PLACEHOLDER IT

NOUN MODIFIERS

Usually repeats win over proximity Eg. Although the company has had increasing revenues for years because of its well-designed products and its excellent management team, in the current economy, IT will face losses. HERE: IT may refer to management team or company but since so many pronouns repeat to refer to company, IT unambiguously refers to company; not management tea. IT is a special pronoun in that it can be used in a sentence with no antecedent noun, but just as a placeholder. Eg. It is great to take part in the GMAT Club forums. Usually need to touch the noun it is modifying. WRONG: Jim biked along an old ROAD to get to his house, WHICH CUT THROUGH THE WOODS. RIGHT: Jim biked along an old ROAD, WHICH CUTS THROUGH THE FOREST to get to his house.

WHEN TO USE: PAST PERFECT + SIMPLE PAST

BETWEEN VS AMONG

COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES

If two actions take place in the past, use the SIMPLE past for the earlier action and PAST PERFECT for the later event. Eg. The results of the companys cost cutting measures show in its profits, which HAVE INCREASED in the past three months after it FELL last year.

Between: Between two things Among: Among more than two things. Eg. I settled a fight between James and Ram. Eg. I settled a dispute among James, Gandolph and Gollum.

Eg. Faster, Greener, Sooner etc Need to be used with THAN> Eg. James can run faster than Jill.

THE RULE OF WHICH

QUANTITY PREPOSITIONAL WORDS

SIMPLE GERUNDS VS COMPLEX GERUNDS

Use WHICH only to refer to a noun preceding it NEVER to an entire clause. WRONG: Crime has recently decreased in our area, which has led to a rise in property values. WHICH cannot refer to an entire clause.

Unlike regular prepositional phrases, quantity prepositional phrases can modify the verb. Eg. The 32 species of dolphin ARE genetically similar.

Simple Gerunds turn verb phrases into noun modifiers. Eg. Tracking satellites accurately is important. Complex Gerunds turn verbs into nouns. Eg. The accurate tracking of satellites is important.

PARALLELISM: SIMPLE GERUNDS VS COMPLEX GERUNDS

PARALLELISM: 2ND ELEMENT TELL YOU WHAT TO DO

COMPARISONS: IMPORTANT MARKERS

In a list of action nouns, the GMAT prefers complex gerunds over simple gerunds. Eg. The troops demanded a withdrawal of govt. forces and releasing prisoners. (WRONG) Eg. The troops demanded a withdrawal of govt. forces and the release of prisoners. EG. I like to swim, to run and to eat. EG. I like to swim, run and eat.

Look out for: Like Unlike As Than

IF-THEN STRUCTURES

RELATIVE PRONOUNS: WHICH VS THAT

SOME OF WHICH STRUCTURES

Eg. If Jan ate pizza tomorrow, then she would become ill. NEVER use WOULD in the IF part of the sentence NEVER use SHOULD anywhere in this type of sentence.

Use WHICH if the modifier is not essential; you need to use a comma Use THAT if the modifier is essential. Eg. The mansion, which has been painted red, is owned by me. Eg. The mansion that has been painted red is owned by me. Painted red could be essential or not; depends on the context.

CORRECT: X explains Y, SOME OF WHICH WERE X explains Y, SOME OF THEM. X explains Y, SOME only INCORRECT: X explains Y, OF WHICH SOME WERE X explains Y, SOME OF THEM WERE. X explains Y, SOME OF WHICH only

POSSESSIVE CASE

PARALLELISM TRAPS:
Eg. Language extinction is accelerating, a tendency ultimately culminating in the survival of just a few languages.

Possessive case nouns cannot have pronouns referring to them. WRONG: Jamaicas weather is great therefore we should go THERE. There cannot refer to Jamaicas

Be wary of parallel structures that logically require one part to be in the present and the other in the future. RIGHT: Language extinction is accelerating, a tendency that will culminate in the survival of just a few languages.